PARKHEAD chiefs have made it clear their star man is not leaving for any price as clubs including Southampton, Newcastle and Sunderland line-up deadline day bids for the Dutchman.

HUFFY Virgil van Dijk has been ordered to stay clear of Celtic’s training ground today as the clock ticks down on his hopes of landing a deadline-day move to Southampton.

The Dutchman’s been told to stay at home for 24 hours after Scotland’s champions made it clear they will not allow him to leave for England’s south coast – at any price.

Angry van Dijk reacted by downing tools, insisting he was in no mental condition to play any part in yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Dundee – a result that leaves Ronny Deila’s men lagging six points behind early pacesetters Inverness.

The player hoped this might force Deila and chief executive Peter Lawwell into caving in to his demands to leave.

He was scheduled to report to the club’s Lennoxtown HQ this morning but instead has been told to clock back in on Tuesday.

Deila even suggested van Dijk should consider extending his Celtic contract rather than demanding a move after 12 months in Glasgow.

Action Images / Graham Stuart

Virgil van Dijk

The Norwegian said: “He is a very important player for us – and we have told him there is no chance he is going to leave. He is too important to us, so there is no chance we will let him go during this window.

“He had wishes to get to a new stage but he is a young player and a young man and he will get many chances in his career. But now we need him here. Virgil knows that and that is how it is going to be.

“We couldn’t replace him so he is going to stay. Of course it’s hard for him and he’s had a lot of thinking to do. But it will not be a problem.

“His girlfriend is also pregnant and due soon. So he hasn’t had the right focus, he wouldn’t have been 100 per cent – that is why he didn’t play. We talked about it.

“He needs a couple of days to get this out of his system, get thinking positively again. He is a professional.

“It will be good when we come back after the break and I’m 100 per cent sure he’ll be fully committed. He’s a player we want to have and we would like to sign him on an even longer contract.

“We need his kind of player if we want to get the results we need.”

Poll loading …

A number of clubs including Newcastle, Sunderland and Sevilla have been chasing van Dijk’s signature.

But Record Sport understands Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is the one driving this 11th-hour bid to force Celtic’s hand.

Lawwell has flatly refused to get around the table and made it clear he will not budge at any price.

But Koeman believes the situation could yet change if a bid is lodged for around £12million at some point today. That is likely to be too expensive for Saints and other interested clubs.

Deila also ruled out any prospect of Celtic allowing Leigh Griffiths – who climbed off the bench to rescue a point at Dens Park – to rejoin Hibs on loan.

The Celtic boss added: “He is going to stay as well. No players are going out.”